DO NOT HIRE – BAIT AND SWITCH SCAM!
I’m warning anyone considering Great Western Moving – STAY AWAY. This was by far the worst moving experience I’ve ever had, and the price more than DOUBLED once my belongings were loaded. They REFUSED to unload until we paid the full amount — and demanded cash.
Initial Quote:
After submitting a detailed, itemized inventory, I was quoted $1,687 for 4 movers. This included:
Truck and fuel fees
Unlimited padded blankets
Loading, unloading, unwrapping, reassembly, and item placement
No extra fees for stairs, long carries, or bulky items (confirmed by Matt Pierce in writing and calls)
I specifically requested 4 movers because our move was same-day (we were closing on one house and moving into the next, just 2 blocks apart). Matt confirmed it would take 4 hours to load and 2 to unload. He said they do this all the time and unloading only takes half the time as loading
Booking:
Matt was responsive and helpful before the move. He answered questions, reassured me that all costs were included (unlimited padded blankets, disassembly, wrapping, loading, unloading, unwrapping, reassembly, and proper placement, and said additional fees in the contract (Bulky items, long carry, stairs, etc) only applied to long-distance moves. I felt confident in the process. BIG mistake.
Moving Day Nightmare:
Only 3 movers showed up — the 4th arrived nearly 3 hours late.
The foreman was rude, demanded water (after we had already offered), and even demanded food from my elderly parents who were helping WHILE we were gone at the closing signing paperwork. If we would not have helped (along with the parents and their truck) so much during loading, they would NOT have been out in time for the deadline that was reiterated constantly from getting the quote through loading. I do not think there was a minute to spare.
Once at the new house, they refused to unload until we paid the new total of $3,509 — more than $1,800 OVER the quote. This delayed EVERYTHING as they sat doing nothing for an HOUR until we got back.
I was never informed about "drive time pay" — but they suddenly added it, even though Matt had the exact addresses. They also charged $416 for ‘packing’, with no explanation.
Poor Workmanship:
They damaged our hardwood floors, dropped and stacked boxes upside-down, and even brought in FURNITURE upside down (fireplace TV stand)
They claimed 4 hours were needed to unload and required payment upfront — but finished in 3. We hurried the process by just having them put boxes in the garage/driveway to avoid further damage and save time.
Only one mover actually worked hard; the rest were slow and took repeated smoke breaks.
The Final Insult:
After all of this, the foreman demanded a tip. Unbelievable.
No Response:
I’ve called and emailed the company multiple times. ZERO response. No apology, no explanation, no refund.
AVOID GREAT WESTERN MOVING AT ALL COSTS.
This company is unprofessional, dishonest, and operates on bait-and-switch tactics. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone.
******* After posting this review and filing a dispute with the credit card used they responded to my many emails/complaints. They agreed to refund $347.56—but only if I signed a “release form” saying I’d delete or change my negative review to a positive one. That says it all. They also damaged my items, and their insurance offered only half the repair cost—again, only if I signed away all future claims. I refused. Don’t fall for their bait-and-switch tactics—stay far away!